A Look Back at 5 Food Trends of 2017

Let’s Take a Look Back at the Top 5 Food Trends of 2017!

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Exotic Grains**

2017 really saw the rise of unusual, purportedly healthy grains. Quinoa, farro, chia, and sorghum are just to name a few of these Chef-loved super-grains. Modern-day cuisine has seen a surge of risk-taking ventures and increased food-literacy of consumers. People with certain gluten-intolerances are starting to rethink grains altogether, and the proof is in the revamped menus.

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Street Food Menus

This one has been pretty hard to miss! Asian-inspired street food (such as ramen and soy noodle salad) first made an appearance in NYC hole-in-the-wall micro-restaurants, and now a Google search in Atlanta shows these niche-restaurants are popping up in our city. This is an exciting development in the food industry, as more and more of these locales experiment and even infuse their dishes with other dishes—think East meets West.

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Aromatic Flavors

Have you ever had rose-flavored ice cream? It’s a popular Persian desert and the surprising combination is a delightful, delicately-flavored treat. We saw an uptick of these types of deserts in 2017, including cardamom, saffron, and orange blossom flower, to just name a few.

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Moringa

Have you heard of it yet? You probably will in 2018, as this little-known nutrient-rich plant pushed kale off the “Top Super Green Pedestal.” Widely-cultivated across Africa and Asia, the plant is believed to contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds and said to aid in digestion, headaches, and as a nutritional supplement. As always discuss it with your doctors before eating something you are unfamiliar with.

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Charcoal-activated Snacks

Are you thinking, “wait, what??” You aren’t alone, and look it up if you’re still in disbelief. Somehow, we went from rainbows everywhere to deepest grey and jet black. And no, food stalls aren’t selling us ice cream that they whipped up by rooting through barbecue grills. It’s made from burnt coconut-shells and other organic matter. Reviews seem to swing both ways as far as safety, with some Instagrammers raving about (and endorsing) this “detoxifying” element, and others a bit. It should be noted that doctors are less than enthused about this newest fad, claiming it does not detox anything and in fact, it may cause intestinal blockage. Food for thought!